Dota 2 Eastern European Match-Fixing Controversy: HYDRA’s Statement Adds Little Clarity

Following a recent match-fixing exposé in the Eastern European Dota 2 community, HYDRA found its players implicated in the scandal. As a result, the organization released a statement to address the accusations.

In Russian YouTuber Morf’s exposé on April 5, HYDRA’s players were accused individually of participating in match-fixing activities, with some allegedly paid to lose while others attempted to win during specific tournament matches. HYDRA responded by launching an internal investigation and reaching out to tournament organizers and bookmakers from popular betting sites to gather more information and clear the players’ names.

However, HYDRA’s efforts to obtain further information hit a dead-end when its requests were declined. While the match-fixing allegations remained unresolved, the organization revealed that a separate investigation in January 2023 had uncovered player Anatoliy “Lefitan” Krupnov’s use of a third-party tool called OverPlus. This tool provides a skin changer and unlocks features purchasable via Valve’s DotaPlus, in addition to revealing information advantageous to players during ranked matches. Consequently, Lefitan was removed from the team.

Given that some HYDRA players were accused of using cheats to manipulate match outcomes, fans remain skeptical of the organization’s statement. OverPlus is viewed as a controversial tool within the Dota 2 community, as it offers information not normally available to average users. In its statement, HYDRA emphasized its status as a young organization with limited information sources and expressed its readiness to sever ties with anyone jeopardizing its reputation.